Bangkok: "Sudawan" has reached out to Ajarn Chalermchai to address his resignation from the position of National Artist. Ms. Sudawan Wangsupakitchkosol, the Minister of Culture, expressed her surprise over Professor Chalermchai Kositpipat's decision. She clarified that the resignation was not due to an inability to criticize the ministry but rather a personal choice related to his age and desire to live according to his principles.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Sudawan stated that Professor Chalermchai had not mentioned anything about being unable to criticize the ministry in his resignation. She urged people to view the video of his announcement carefully, noting that his words might have been taken out of context due to the brevity of the clip.
In a phone conversation with Professor Chalermchai, Ms. Sudawan learned that his reasons were personal, emphasizing his wish to pursue his life independently, without any external pressures. Professor Chalermchai assured Ms. Sudawan that his decision was not influenced by an inability to express criticism, a sentiment that was misrepresented in some reports. He plans to share the complete video to clarify his stance.